PocketsRN Posted November 29, 2016 Report Share Posted November 29, 2016 Anyone know if RC is planning something with Empress? It looks like they have nothing scheduled for her beyond this coming April, but I haven't seen anything about them selling her or sending her back to Pullmantur or anything. Only thing I've come across is an article about them maybe homeporting her in Cuba sometime in the not-too-distant future. Cruise law news i think was the source, not sure about its legitimacy. Katelynnhab 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KLA Posted November 29, 2016 Report Share Posted November 29, 2016 It's basically a terribly kept secret that as soon as the cruise line is able to send a ship to Cuba, that's what Empress is destined for. They needed a small ship that would be able to dock there, so that's why they pulled Empress back from Pullmantur. They've been incrementally adding sailings every few months out, so that once RCCL gets the OK to send the ship Empress will be able to add those itineraries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted November 29, 2016 Report Share Posted November 29, 2016 That future might be in doubt now (if it wasn't before....). The situation with Cuba is even less clear now than it was before the election. Guess we'll have to wait and see how it goes...but it doesn't seem like anything is likely to happen soon, It seems like RCI is having trouble keeping the Empress booked and with Cuba seemingly even further away than ever, it may have turned out to be a bad business decision. bobroo and KLA 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coneyraven Posted November 29, 2016 Report Share Posted November 29, 2016 I had no idea they were having trouble filling her .... I thought it was just the opposite as an alternative for folks that enjoy the smaller, more cozy, ships. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocLC Posted November 29, 2016 Report Share Posted November 29, 2016 That future might be in doubt now (if it wasn't before....). The situation with Cuba is even less clear now than it was before the election. Guess we'll have to wait and see how it goes...but it doesn't seem like anything is likely to happen soon, It seems like RCI is having trouble keeping the Empress booked and with Cuba seemingly even further away than ever, it may have turned out to be a bad business decision. I think you may be correct. Look at Fathom. They were using the humanitarian aid exception to sail to Cuba. And while those sailing were popular, they were limited and they just couldn't keep their ship full without drastically cutting prices. As a result, the line in creating operation mid 2017. Perhaps Royal needs to follow NCL's lead and turn the Empress into a party ship and include the beverage packages with the fare. WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DunkelBierJay Posted November 29, 2016 Report Share Posted November 29, 2016 I think you may be correct. Look at Fathom. They were using the humanitarian aid exception to sail to Cuba. And while those sailing were popular, they were limited and they just couldn't keep their ship full without drastically cutting prices. As a result, the line in creating operation mid 2017. Perhaps Royal needs to follow NCL's lead and turn the Empress into a party ship and include the beverage packages with the fare. Agree...since Carnival is redeploying Adonia to P&O and liquidating Fathom, future Cuba sailings look to be in doubt for all involved for the foreseeable future. DocLC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PocketsRN Posted November 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2016 I had no idea they were having trouble filling her .... I thought it was just the opposite as an alternative for folks that enjoy the smaller, more cozy, ships. I thought this too. Probably just with it being so old and less flashy and feature-filled than the new boats is dragging it down. I just came off earlier this month, though, and it's been one of my favorites so far. coneyraven 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coneyraven Posted November 29, 2016 Report Share Posted November 29, 2016 I thought this too. Probably just with it being so old and less flashy and feature-filled than the new boats is dragging it down. I just came off earlier this month, though, and it's been one of my favorites so far. I couldn't agree more .... now, I haven't been on the Mega-ships .... the largest I've been on was Navigator,which was a lot of fun, but our cruise on Grandeur this past September was by far my favorite ... so much so that we booked the same cruise, cabin, everything, in 2017. -- then Rhapsody in 2018 (same class as Grandeur) -- I suppose one of these days we'll get to the bigger ships though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PocketsRN Posted November 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2016 I did Freedom last year and loved it, and I've got Oasis and Anthem booked, but I actually don't even use a lot of the fancy new features they're offering. The casino, coffee shop, and mini golf course on the ships that have it are pretty much all I use. I go to be on the boat, and I like feeling like I'm on a boat, and you feel it a lot more on a smaller boat like Empress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjac Posted November 30, 2016 Report Share Posted November 30, 2016 I couldn't agree more .... now, I haven't been on the Mega-ships .... the largest I've been on was Navigator,which was a lot of fun, but our cruise on Grandeur this past September was by far my favorite ... so much so that we booked the same cruise, cabin, everything, in 2017. -- then Rhapsody in 2018 (same class as Grandeur) -- I suppose one of these days we'll get to the bigger ships though. When you do go to a mega ship, book a back to back. It will take the first 7 days to see everything on board and the second 7 days to enjoy them! My wife and I did a btb on the Allure this past Feb. I wish we could have booked another week! We were seriously thinking about stowing away, but, we were out of clean clothes....bummer. KLA, coneyraven and WAAAYTOOO 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PocketsRN Posted November 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2016 How do you book a btb? Do you have to book each half separately? What if you can't get the same cabin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookingyo Posted November 30, 2016 Report Share Posted November 30, 2016 The Nov 17th sailing on Empress was full, with a surprising amount of kids. So it may not be all doom and gloom. Now I do know some Casino Club members were given comped cruise fare for some sailings for awhile and there has been the 3rd & 4th passenger free deal. Still the booze was flowing always and the casino was busy a lot of times. I've sailed Empress twice this year. It's a fun old school ship, with good food and excellent staff. I think Empress is here for awhile. WAAAYTOOO and coneyraven 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocLC Posted November 30, 2016 Report Share Posted November 30, 2016 How do you book a btb? Do you have to book each half separately? What if you can't get the same cabin? You do have to book each separately. It's as if you were booking two cruises. Ideally, you'll get the same cabin as it makes things much easier. If you can't, the stewards will help you move your stuff in the morning between the two cruises. Just don't put your luggage out the night before. You'll also receive instructions in your cabin on what to do prior to the ending of your first cruise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeatArmy2010 Posted November 30, 2016 Report Share Posted November 30, 2016 Good morning, One of my aunts who cruises ALOT, had been trying to go on the Empress to Cuba and had been on some kind of a waiting list. She was told, by either a rep from RC or her travel agent, that RC is waiting to see what happens with the situation in Venezuela since Cuba gets their fuel from there. Although I would think the Empress would be able to carry sufficient fuel for a cruise. I do want to travel on the Empress since I think the smaller boats have very attentive staff. The timing has not been working out though. We will hit Diamond on the Legend on the sailing from Singapore to Dubai. I just need more leave time to cruise more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KLA Posted November 30, 2016 Report Share Posted November 30, 2016 When you do go to a mega ship, book a back to back. It will take the first 7 days to see everything on board and the second 7 days to enjoy them! My wife and I did a btb on the Allure this past Feb. I wish we could have booked another week! We were seriously thinking about stowing away, but, we were out of clean clothes....bummer. AHH! I have a B2B on Allure booked for my honeymoon ... super excited to see that feedback! coneyraven, rjac, bcarney and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjac Posted November 30, 2016 Report Share Posted November 30, 2016 AHH! I have a B2B on Allure booked for my honeymoon ... super excited to see that feedback! Congrats! Great way to do a honeymoon. If you want to know a lot more about the Allure, check this link out. I STRONGLY recommend booking the shows and any excursions you want on line. The "Blue Planet" show will blow your mind, it is awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PocketsRN Posted November 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2016 She was told, by either a rep from RC or her travel agent, that RC is waiting to see what happens with the situation in Venezuela since Cuba gets their fuel from there. Although I would think the Empress would be able to carry sufficient fuel for a cruise. I think RC was actually looking to station Empress in Cuba, not just make it an itinerary stop, so it should then be it's primary fuel depot. If what they told her is true, then that definitely would be a major factor. I wonder how much the election and all the political shuffling will affect it, too. I can't imagine that's not all having an impact on the embargoes and everything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donolog Posted November 30, 2016 Report Share Posted November 30, 2016 While there may be a number of logistical issues (such as fuel supply) to address, I can't see how it would make sense for RCCL to offer a regular itinerary that includes Cuba unless the citizens of the United States (and RCCL) can be confident they can travel as tourists to Cuba without issue. When the Obama administration began thawing the diplomatic ice between the two countries, I think RCCL began preparing to capitalize on the opportunities a more open US-Cuba relationship would afford should that come to fruition. However, the lifting of the embargo and opening up bona fide tourist visits is beyond the scope of the President's authority and requires Congressional approval. Maybe things look different on the ground in the USA, but I have seen nothing to indicate there's any Presidential or Congressional appetite for continuing the diplomatic course Obama has begun with Cuba -- in fact, if anything a reversion to earlier ways seems more likely. That said, if there's one thing I've learned from watching this last election ... anything's possible no matter how unimaginable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PocketsRN Posted December 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2016 I think it'll come, but gonna be a slow process. Like you said, it's a lot bigger than the president. And there's gonna be a lot of back and forth between our government and theirs. If all this is true about RC, I think they definitely jumped the gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firegal2539 Posted December 1, 2016 Report Share Posted December 1, 2016 We have had to huge shake ups, a new President and Castro passing and his brother, Raul, taking over. There have been many stories already about Raul won't allow cruise ships to sail to Cuba and President Trump isn't crazy about anyone sailing there. I agree that this will not happen fast, it will take time for both governments to iron out the details, maybe in a year or two, if it happens at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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